In a surprise move, boxing newcomer Triller Fight Club has won the purse bids to stage Teofimo Lopez’s IBF mandatory defence against Australian challenger George Kambosos Jr.
Triller Fight Club CEO Ryan Kavanaugh bid a huge $6,018,000, trumping Matchroom Boxing who bid $3,506,000, hoping to lure the bout to DAZN, and Lopez’s promoter Top Rank whose bid of $2,315,000 wasn’t enough to keep the fight on its US platform ESPN.
Lopez (16-0, 12 KOs) felt he wasn’t being adequately compensated during the previous negotiations, considering his breakthrough win against Vasiliy Lomachenko last October, and had stated he would follow the money after purse bids.
The undisputed lightweight champion was, therefore, understandably delighted with the news. “$6 million from Triller! Goodbye world,” tweeted Lopez on the bid’s announcement.
The Honduran-American is entitled to a 65-35 split of the winning bid, an estimated $3,911,700, but must share 20% of his side with Top Rank as it is no longer the lead promoter plus pay four sanctioning body fees and a managerial percentage amongst other deductions. Kambosos (19-0, 10 KOs) and his team will divide the rest.
Triller Fight Club launched in November 2020 with the highly-publicised eight-round exhibition bout between former undisputed heavyweight king Mike Tyson and four-weight champion Roy Jones Jr. Their next promotion on April 17 will feature YouTuber boxer Jake Paul against former UFC fighter Ben Askren – it’s possible that Lopez-Kambosos could land on that same card.